Loom shuttle



G. M. CHENEY LOOM SHUTTLE Aug. 10 1926. 1,595,707

Filed Ma 20, 1922 3 SheetsSheet 1 4 r l /j a Aug. G. M. CHENEY LOOM SHUTTLE Filed May 20, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (zzveroio 7 Z0. M m/ 43.

Aug. 10 1926.

I G. M. CHENEY LOOM SHUTTLE Filed May 20. 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNITED STATES GEORGE M. CHENEY, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, 'MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 LITCHFIELD SHUTTLE COMPANY, OF SQUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LOOM SHUTTLE.

Application filed Kay 20, 1922. Serial No. 582,304.

This invention relates to loom shuttles and especially to shuttles of the self-threading type, and is intended to provide threading means constructed and arranged to avoid unduly weakening the forward end of the shuttle by excessive cutting away of the.

' turned over-lapping flanges, the threader block being held in place by a transverse bolt or screw passing through opposite perforations near the bottom of the two walls and having a plug of felt inserted in the trough between the walls to exert tension on the yarn. Such construction, however, requires much cutting away of the wood of.

the shuttle bobbin to receive the threaderblock and greatly weakens the shuttle beside adding to its weight. Moreover, the felt plug wears rapidly under the continuous travel of the yarn.

With a view to overcoming these errors and also of securing a more satisfactory op- :eration of the shuttle for any desired condition, the present invention comprises such a construction and arrangement of the threading devices of the shuttle as will result in a strong and light shuttle which can be easily constructed to give a definite and uniform tension without extra expense and without resort to the objectional friction pads of felt, and which is equally well adapted to be provided with a simple and convenient adjust able tension device capable of affording the widest range of tension that may be required.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated different forms of construction and arrangement embodying'the principles of this invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the forward or threading end of the shuttle with the improved threading device in operative position therein.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the shuttle body with the threading devices removed to 7 show the mode of recessing or cutting away the threading end of the shuttle.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections on planes 3-3 and 4-4: of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse section on plane 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing the overhanging plate of the threader viewed from the side and from the bottom respectively. A

Figure 7 is a detail view showing the hook plate member of the threader as viewed from the inside and bottom, respectively.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing similar threader members partly broken away to expose the adjustable tension members.

Figure 9 is a central vertical section showing the tension members in relation to the thread-eye and overhanging plate.

Figure 10 is a transverse section onthe plane 101O of Figure 8.

Figures 11 and 12 are plan views showing a modified tension device and a slightly modified arrangement of the thread-eye.

Figures 13 and 141: are transverse sections on the planes 1313 and 1414 of Figure 11.

Figs. 17 and 18 are detail views of another modification.

Figures 15 and 16 are difierent detail elevations of the adjustable tension member shown in Figures 11, 12 and 14:.

In the practice of this invention according to the form illustrated on the first sheet of drawings, theforward end of the shuttle body is provided with a narrow vertical channel or slot 2, extending forwardly from the throat or yarn-intake on about the medial line to a transverse or lateral passage 3 which leads to a yarn-delivery opening or cordance with the improvement disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,337,389.

The top face of the forward end of the. shuttle is recessed as shown at 1'0 and 11 for a slight depth suflicient to receive th( two coacting shallow plates which comprise the guiding or threading members by which :5' shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7. In Figure 7 the hook plate 12, is formed of comaratively shallow depth with the rear and forward opposed hooks 12' and 12 on the bottom of said plate. At its rear end is located a downwardly project-ing stud 12 which is notched on its rear face, as shown at 12 to interlock the fastening belt or pin hereinafter referred to. Farther forward is another shorter studl2 adapted to fit into the recess 6 toprevent torsional movement. At the forward end the hook plate is formed with a tapered and bevelled horn 12 against whichthe yarn draws and by which it is guided downward for insertion into the thread-eye in the act of being threaded.

The other threading member comprises the overhang plate 13, which is also shallow in depth and is recessed on its under side so as to permit its top portion to overhang or overlap the respective hooks 12 12". At its rear end the overhang plate is provided with a fastening stud 13 notched at its rear face, as shown at 13', and at its front end it is provided with a shorter stud 13 adapted to fit into the recess or socket to prevent torsional displacement.

The surface of both plates are bevelled oil to give the requisite slopes for guiding the yarn in the threading operation. A transverse bolt or pin 15, passes through the shuttle at the right level to engage and interlock with the notches 12 and 13 formed in the rear face of the holding studs of the respective threader members.

By observing Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the construction and arrangement above described does not necessitate cutting away either a wide or a deep channel for the oassa e of the am since the two coo aerating thread plates or members do not extend down into this channel whichjwould have to be widened to receive them, but simply rest in a shallow recess formed in the top of the shuttle and overhang the two side walls of this recess, their respective fastening studs passing down through appropriately located holes without materially weakening the shuttle body. Furthermore, the extra that this construction makes it possible 'to give difi'erent'degrees of tension on the yarn without extra expense in manufacturing the shuttle. As the yarn unwinds rapidly from the bobbin. in the weaving operation, it naturally tends to balloon out in a nodal form and it is found that the more this node is confined or limited the greater, within limits, will be the tension of the yarn. WVith a shuttle. constructed; according to the present invention this yarn passage or channel 2 maybe made exceedingly narrow which will give a substantial amount of tension or merely by using a widercutter a wider chan-. nel may be cut to lessen the tension. Therefore, when the shuttles for a certain class of work require a certain amount of tension to secure the best results it can be ascertained by experiment what width of yarn passage is appropriate to givethe desired tension, and the shuttles for that work can be channeled accordingly since. the use.

of a narrow or thin cutter will give more tension and a wider cutter will give less tension within the limits of the operation of this principle and, of course, it costs no more to use a wider cutter than a narrow one,

the kindof weaving performed in his mill,

Moreover, narrow channeled shuttles can be adapted for work of less tension by merely running a wide cutter through the channel after taking out the other parts.

The construction and arrangement equally lends itself to the useof an adjustable tension device where it is desired to increase the range of tension and to vary the tension from' time to time. In Figures 8 to 10 I have shown one form of adjustable or variable tension device with the two-part threader already described. In this case there is a small bore made in the bottom of the shuttle at a suitable point'intermediate of the positions of the two hooks of the hook plate, and in this is mounted a rotatable plug 20 whose upper end portion is cut away to leave asemi-cylindrical portion '21 projecting upwardly toward the overhang plate. A cooperating tension member 22 is attached to the hook plate 12 and extends downward nearly to the bottom of the member 21 at which point it is provided with a horizontal flange or projecting foot 23 forming a support beneath the yarn passing through the yarn channel. Inthe osition shown in Figures 8 to 10 the -adjustable member 21 is in open position to'allow the yarn to passdirectly forward along the medial'line to the thread eye. If new the plug 20 be-rotated by means of a screwdriver inserted in its lower'notched end in a'contra-clockwise direction viewed. in Figure 8, it will be seen that it can be rotated so that its exteriorcylindrical surface will project 1 slightly beyond the inner edge of the tentension device is shown in Figures 11 told In that case a screw-plug 25 has its upper end cut off in an axial direction, the remaining portion forming a projection 26 which is tapered to give a conical surface at the upper part of said projection, and at the base portion or lower portion of said projection the screw threads are ground off as shown at 27 through a short are to give a smooth rounded surface for contact with the yarn, while beyond that point the threads are left intact. In idle position, as shown in Figures 11 and 14, the entire projection 26 lies within the recess formedin the wood to one side of the medial line of the channel through which the thread passes. When the tension plug is given a half rotation, as inclicated at Figure 12, the yarn will be very much deflected from its course and will even draw through the bottom of the V-shaped groove forming the thread on the plug which will give an additional pinching action soas to provide a relatively strong tension. On the other hand, if only a quarter turn be given the tension plug, the yarn while deflected from its normal path will be riding over the smooth periphery of the projecting portion 26 and thus be subject to less tension. 7

In this form of the device the thread-eye S has its intake notch 8 located back of the medial line so as to normally draw the thread in a plane slightly beyond the medial line of the shuttle. To prevent the yarn chafing against the wooden wall of the channel at the throat or intake end of the yarn channel I provide a small vertical pin 28 which is normally in front of the natural line of the thread travel but which affords a bearing surface for the thread at the throat when the tension plug is adjusted to deflect the yarn therefrom.

Where the tension is light it will be found that there is an unequal tension on successive picks of the shuttle. In a left hand shuttle,

like those illustrated in: the drawings, this inequality of tension is due to the fact that the shuttle when boxed at the right hand end of the lay has its threadeye located nearly the whole length of the shuttle beyond the se'lvage, while when the box is at the other end of the lay the thread-eye is only three or four inches from the selvage. To compensate forthis difference in tension the thread-eye, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, may be arranged on an oblique or diagonal plane instead of at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle so that the friction, due to contact with the end of the thread-eye, will be greater when theshuttle is moving from right to left than when the shuttle is moving from left to right owing to the greater angular bend of the yarn as it issues from the threadeye.

On considering the different forms described it will be seen that the maximum limit of tension is determined by the width of the throat or channel through which-the yarn passes to the thread-eye that is by the amount of restriction of the ballooning of the yarn unwinding fromthe shuttle, while for greater retardation than will thus be ob-;

tained the adjustment of the shiftahle ten.

sion member will suliice to give the maximum of tension that the yarn can withstand without danger of breaking. It is therefore to insure that the yarn tension will not'fall'below a certain definite point while giving it as much more tension as may be desired.

The conical or bevelled end of the plug 25 act-s to cause the yarn to slide down to correct position, and as the point or tip'is back of the plane of the rear wall or face. of the thread channel the yarn is prevented from getting behind the plug and is always compelled to pass around the front side of the plug, whatever the position of adjustment may be. i

A further advantage of my threaded construction is that the parts can be cast so as to require no machining other than smoothing or finishing, and can be made of aluminum to still further lighten theweight.

In Figures 17 and 18 I have shown a fur ther modification of the invention in whichthe adjustable tension member is mounted transversely of the shuttle in a horizontal plane, In this form, the hook plate 12 is provided with a downwardly extending sloping yarn guide 32 reaching nearly to the bottom of the longitudinal yarn channel 2. A transverse screw plug 30 having its end portion cut away to leave a longitudinally projecting lug or finger 31 having a flat side nearly in the diametrical plane of the screw and a rounded outer side disposed near the peripheral outline of the. screw, is inserted through the side wall of the shuttle .so as to locate its projecting finger 31 in the medial yarn passage as shown in Fig. 18. When the screw lies with the flat face of its yarn engaging projection uppermost, as in Fig. 17 the yarn has a straight passage over the top of that face and beneath the bottom edge of the guide 32 which is arranged a little beyond or forwardly of the .screw plug 30.. As the screw is rotated for adjustment however the outer or high side of the projectin member 31 raises the yarn. nearer to. and even above the level of the under side of the guide 32, thereby putting the longitudinal bight of yarn in the channel 2 under tension which is increased according to the amount that the peripheral part of the yarn engaging'proiection 31 raises the yarn above the horizontal level of the bottom edge of guide 32. The drag is also increased by the longer contact of the yarn with the peripheral face of the yarn retarding projecting member. The maximum height of the yarn retarding member is indicated in Fig. 17 by a dotted linesome distance above the bottom horizontal edge of the guide 32. 7

'What I claim is:

g 1..In a self-threading loom shuttle, the combination with a shuttle body whose forward end portion is formed with a shallow recess, and is longitudinally channeled along the medial axis to provide yarn engaging walls forlimitingthe ballooning of the yarn, a two part threader comprising a shallow hook plate occupying one side of said shallow recess with its inside hook carrying edge overhanging one wall of said channel and a cooperating shallow overhang plate occupy ing the other side of said shallow recess and having its inside edge overlapping the hooks of the hook plate, a thread-eye for deliveri-ng the :yarn through the side wall of the shuttle, and means for firmly securing the said plates in operative relation in the shut tle, substantially as described. 7

2. In a self-threading loom shuttle, the combination with a shuttle body provided with a lateral thread eye and suitably channeled to allow the yarn to pass from the bobbin through said channel and out of said eye in the sideof the shuttle, a two-part threading device comprising a shallow hook plate overhanging the yarn channel from one side and having reversely turned rear and forward hooks, and a shallow overhang plate mounted on the opposite side of the yarn channel with its inner edge formed to overlap the hooks of'the hook plate each of said plates being provided with downwardly extending studs affording means for securing the plates firmly in the shuttle, substantially as described.

3. In a self-threading loom shuttle, the combinationof a shuttle body channeled longitudinally toform a passage for the yarn from the bobbin, and provided with a transverse thread-eye at the forward end of said channel to deliver the yarn through the side ofthe shuttle, separate yarn threading plates mounted on top of the shuttle provided respectively-with hooks and overhangs extending inwardly beyond the side walls of said channels inoperative relation to thread thev ber arranged to engagesaid studs and anchor them against removal, substantially as described. Y o c 4. In a self-threading loom shuttle,"the

combination of a shuttle body provided at its forward end with a medial channel forms ing a runway with yarn engaging side walls,- threading members comprising two separate.

non-contacting plates mounted on opposite sides of said channel and above the level thereofto uide the arn into said channel in the threading operation and to prevent its; accidental'escape therefrom, and means for 'detachably locking said plates securely in operative position, and a thread-guide;lo

cated forwardly of said channel to delivermedial channel and with a transversely arranged delivery eye, and with vertical holes arranged on opposite sides of said channel near the rear or intakeend thereof, and also provided with a transverse bore intersecting said holes below thelevel of the bottomof said channel, of separate threading plates mounted in the top of the shuttle with their inner edge portions partially overlapped above said channel and having studs arrangedto project downwardly into said holes, and a locking pin inserted in said transverse bore to form holding engagement the forward end of said channel to deliver theyarn from said channel through the side ofthe shuttle, superimposed separate overlapped threading members mounted on'opposite' sides of the channel in position to guide the yarn into said channel and thread eye, one of said members being provided wlth a yarn deflecting prong at its forward end to guidethe yarn into'said threadeye,

means for preventin the yarn from unthreading from said eye, and'means comprising downwardly extending studs, and a stud engaging member for maintaining said threading member in place, substantially as described.

7. In a self threading loom shuttle, the combination with a shuttle provided with a I longitudinal channel and a transverselyarranged communicating thread eye for delivery of the yarn, separate threading plates mounted in overlapping relation above said channel, a tension vmember rotatably mount ed in a recess formed in ,oneside ofthe channel to present a yarn engaging surface against the yarn tordeiiect the yarn toward the opposite-side of the channel to a greater" sition of said tension member, substantially as described.

8. In a self-threading loom shuttle, the combination with a shuttle body provided with a. medial longitudinal channel communicating with the intake opening of a transversely disposed thread eye, of threading means located above said channel in overlapped relation, a rotatable plug mounted to project into said channel above the bottom thereof, said plug being cut away longitudinally to leave a projecting member on one side of its central axis which in non tensioning position presents a non-deflecting face alongside of but out of tensioning contact with the yarn, but which when rotated presents its outer face in contact with the yarn to a greater or less degree to vary the yarn tension, substantially as described.

9. A yarn tensioning, member for a loom shuttle embracing in its construction an externally threaded plug, whose yarn engaging portion is cut away longitudinally to leave an approximately halfround projection having its upper end tapered to deflect the yarn downwardly and prevent the yarn from passing to the rear of the plug when the yarn is inserted in the longitudinal chan nel of a shuttle, substantially as described.

10. A yarn tensioning member for a loom shuttle, comprising an externally screw threaded plug having one side cut away to leave a projecting portion bounded by a transverse plane of cleavage and a peripheral arcuate surface, a portion of said arcuate surface being free of thread grooves at the point of initial contact with the yarn whereby the plug may be so adjusted in relation to the yarn channel of the shuttle as to present its transverse face toward the yarn when in idle position and when rotated to present first the smooth portion of its periphery and by further rotation its threaded portion against the yarn, substantially as described.

11. A yarn tensioning member for a loom shuttle, comprising an externally threaded plug adapted to be inserted through the bottom of the threading portion of a shuttle so as to be capable of rotative adjustment therein, said plug having at its upper end a longitudinal projection of half-round cross section mainly-0n one side of the plug diameter, the upper portion of said projection being bevelled to form a guiding surface to defleet the yarn downward, the lower portion of the peripheral surface of said projection having screw threads arranged to engage the yarn as the plug is rotated to stronger tensioning position, substantially as described.

12. In a loom shuttle, the combination with a shuttle body provided with a medial longitudinal channel for the yarn and a forwardly arranged diagonally disposed tubular thread-eye whose intake opening is arranged to position the forward portion of the yarn to one side of the center, a tension member comprising a rotatable plug having a yarn-engaging portion of substantially half-round cross-section lying mainly on one and a vertical pin inserted in the yarn channel near its intake end on the opposite side of the channel from said plug, substantially as described.

13. In a self-threading loom shuttle, the combination with a shuttle body whose forward end is provided with a longitudinal medial channel for the passage of the yarn, a transverse tubular thread-eye disposed at the forward end of said channel at an oblique angle thereto, thereby tending to equalize the yarn tension at opposite sides of the loom, cooperating threading members embracing separate shallow plates mounted above said channel, to overhang the channel walls in mutually overlapped, spaced relation and means for securing each of said plates firmly to the shuttle body, substantially as described.

14. In a self-threading loom shuttle, the combination of a shuttle body provided with a longitudinal medial channel for the pas sage of the yarn and having a bore extending transversely of and obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle at the forward end of said channel, a tubular thread-eye mounted in said oblique bore, cooperating threading members overhanging said channel in overlapping but non-contacting relation to guide the yarn into the channel and thread-eye, substantially as described.

15. In a self-threading loom shuttle, the combination of a shuttle body provided at its forward end with a vertical channel forming a narrow passage for the yarn which communicates at its forward end with a lateral passage leading to a yarn-delivery opening in the'side of the shuttle, a hook plate located above the channel in a shallow recess formed in the top of the shuttle on the delivery side of the channel and provided with a downward yarn-deflecting member at its forward end to guide the yarn into said narrow passage, a separate cooperating overhang plate mounted on the opposite side of the channel and formed to partly overhang said hook plate, and a wear-sustaining guide arranged to engage the yarn where the yarn turns from a longitudinal to a transverse direction in its passage out of the shuttle, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the 

